Katerina Fonaris
Melbourne,VIC
Summary
A self-motivated and passionate interior designer, with solid background experience in creatively designing both residential and commercial interiors. Leveraged by transferable skills gained through sales, merchandising, and business ownership and management. I build and nurture strong relationships with clients and key stakeholders, demonstrating highly developed interpersonal and communication skills. Advanced leadership capability to transform diverse teams and individuals and foster beneficial relationships; management aptitude to deliver sustainable results, coordinate overall strategy and propel the organisation to higher peaks of success. Encouraging manager and analytical problem-solver with talents for team building, leading and motivating, as well as excellent customer relations aptitude and relationship-building skills. Proficient in using independent decision-making skills and sound judgment to positively impact company success. Dedicated to applying training, monitoring and morale-building abilities to enhance employee engagement and boost performance.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Store Manager
TJX Australia PTY LTD
11.2022 - Current
- Coached sales associates in product specifications, sales incentives, and selling techniques, significantly increasing customer satisfaction ratings.
- Verified inventory counts remained within monthly tolerance levels and compiled financial data in compliance with budget.
- Walked through store areas to identify and proactively resolve issues negatively impacting operations.
- Maintained positive customer relationships by responding quickly to customer service inquiries.
- Processed payments for credit and debit cards and returned proper change for cash transactions.
- Reconciled daily sales transactions to balance and log day-to-day revenue.
- Provided weekly work schedules to employees to accommodate business demands and vacation requests.
- Managed opening and closing procedures and recommended changes to enhance efficiency of daily activities.
- Interviewed, hired, and trained staff associates and equipped to comply with company policies and procedures.
- Rotated merchandise and displays to feature new products and promotions.
- Responded to customer concerns, working with manager to significantly raise customer satisfaction ratings.
- Created and maintained safe and secure work environments for employees.
- Implemented innovative programs to increase employee loyalty and reduce turnover.
- Supervised creation of exciting merchandise displays to catch attention of store customers.
- Launched staff engagement, gender diversity and cultural programs in addition to robust reporting tool that increased operational quality.
OWNER & INTERIOR DESIGNER
Kozari Design
07.2019 - Current
- Key responsibilities:
- Welcomed and greeted customers in a friendly authentic demeanor and provide tailored customer service with effort to recognize client design, style preference and purchasing requirements and address enquiries regarding time frame and budget.
- Providing residential and commercial property styling involving consultation with clients and contributing to concept, design, space planning, design development, document, onsite construction management and contract administration.
- Attending home or shop visits for room measuring and floor planning.
- Providing final presentation with working drawings, furniture selections and accessories.
- Proactively mitigated staff and customer concerns nonjudgmentally though actively listening and offering workable solutions.
- Created and implemented dynamic daily store operating procedures for cash handling, inventory count, deposits, crisis management, and shift procedures to enhance efficiency and support the delivery of service excellence;
- Supported supervisor-led employee direction to ensure the delivery of exceptional services;
- Exhibited advantageous communication and line reporting procedures to enhance service delivery, making improvements or adjustments where required;
- Managed team performance through recognition of achievements and identification of opportunities for improvement.
- Assisted on the shop floor with inventory and replenishment, stock risk duties and exhibition of visual merchandising displays.
- Utilized computer software programs for data entry: Microsoft Excel, Word and EOD email.
- Ensured COVID-19 compliance with protocols as outlined in government regulations.
SALES CONSULTANT
PAPAYA Homewares
07.2019 - 12.2021
- Key responsibilities:
- Welcomed and greeted customers in a friendly authentic demeanor and provide tailored customer service with effort to recognize customer purchasing requirements and address enquiries.
- Providing residential and commercial property styling.
- Demonstrate brand representation by adherence to organizational values, expectations, policies and procedures.
- Organized stock picking and packing via online and phone orders.
- Performed administrative duties including answering phones, providing quotes and data input to ensure that follow up and service excellence is maintained.
- Achieved KPI targets and store budgets that were aligned with management’s expectations, including inventory adjustments, daily order processing and stock management.
- Evaluated and replenished shop floor and reserve stock inventory.
- Undertook end-of-season stocktakes.
- Performed store opening and closing duties.
- Worked cooperatively with warehouse staff to ensure timely customer delivery.
- Managed incoming and outgoing stock, complied with loading dock safety processes and maintained workplace cleanliness / store presentation.
- Assisted on the shop floor with inventory and replenishment, stock risk duties and exhibition of visual merchandising displays.
- Utilized computer software programs for data entry: Microsoft Excel, Word and EOD email.
- Ensured COVID-19 compliance with protocols as outlined in government regulations.
SALES CONSULTANT
Hermen’s Imports
08.2004 - 12.2010
- Key responsibilities:
- As 2IC at the Edward Miller Toorak store, welcomed and greeted customers in a friendly authentic demeanor and provide tailored customer service with effort to recognize customer purchasing requirements and address enquiries.
- Demonstrate brand representation by adherence to organizational values, expectations, policies and procedures.
- Achieved KPI targets that were aligned with management’s expectations, including inventory adjustments, daily order processing and stock management.
- Evaluated and replenished shop floor and reserve stock inventory.
- Undertook end-of-season stocktakes.
- Managed incoming and outgoing stock, complied with loading dock safety processes and maintained workplace cleanliness / store presentation.
- Assisted on the shop floor with inventory and replenishment, stock risk duties and exhibition of visual merchandising displays.
- Ensured COVID-19 compliance with protocols as outlined in government regulations.
Education
Certificate IV in Interior Design (MSF40113) -
Holmeglen TAFE
01.2019
Victorian Certificate of Education -
McKinnon Secondary College
01.1998
Skills
- Loss Prevention
- Customer Relations
- Department Oversight
- Store Organization
- Pricing and Markdowns
- Issue Resolution
- Shift Scheduling
- Store operations
- Customer Service and Engagement
- Business development and planning
- Team Management
- Incident Reports
- Employee Coaching
- Store Opening and Closing
Professionalattributes
- Delivers excellence in client service through the entire client service experience;
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with advanced interpersonal skills to engage with key stakeholders;
- Demonstrated capacity to work autonomously, as well as part of a team;
- Proven leader and mentor of teams to enhance sales and services;
- Influential people management expertise, and proactive customer and employee concern mitigator;
- Ability to add value within a multi-disciplinary team environment, and develop and nurture effective partnerships;
- Comprehensive knowledge of retail requirements including Point of Sale, merchandise control, monetary transactions, security and visual merchandising presentation;
- Highly computer literate with capability in Microsoft Office, and related business systems.
Availability
- Monday, 9am till 6pm
- Tuesday, 9am till 6pm
- Wednesday, 9am till 6pm
- Thursday, 9am till 6pm
- Friday, 9am till 6pm
I am flexible with early morning starts and the occasional weekends.
References
Available upon request.
Timeline
Assistant Store Manager
TJX Australia PTY LTD
11.2022 - Current
OWNER & INTERIOR DESIGNER
Kozari Design
07.2019 - Current
SALES CONSULTANT
PAPAYA Homewares
07.2019 - 12.2021
SALES CONSULTANT
Hermen’s Imports
08.2004 - 12.2010
Certificate IV in Interior Design (MSF40113) -
Holmeglen TAFE
Victorian Certificate of Education -
McKinnon Secondary College
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